Research Group: Geochemistry

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Geochemistry comprises more than 30 researchers and postgraduate students who apply state-of-the-art geochemical analysis and modelling to scientific questions of major societal, economic and environmental importance.

Group Overview

Our diverse research activity can be broadly divided into 8 themes. Click the theme title for more information.

We aim to achieve a better understanding of the major geochemical cycles of the Earth System and the impact of humanities action upon them. Our work also focuses on the reconstruction of the climate of the past to better understand the drivers of natural climate and environmental change.

Hydrothermal processes represent one of the major mechanisms for chemical and heat transfer on Earth. They have a profound influence on ocean chemistry and they play host to unique ecosystems. In addition many of the world's most important resources are sourced from deposits that formed as a result of hydrothermal activity.

The geochemical ecology (Southampton University Marine Isotopes and Ecology SUMIE) group use natural chemical markers contained in the tissues of animals to track the flow of nutrients within food webs and the movement of animals across geochemical gradients.

We are working to find solutions to reducing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. These include storage in conventional (depleted oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline aquifers) and unconventional (basalts, mantle peridotites, enhanced weathering) geological reservoirs.

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Facilities

The Geochemistry Group is equipped with a world-class range of analytical equipment and associated laboratories. The instruments and techniques available can be applied to a diverse range of applications including environmental, geological, nuclear, medical, archaeological and oceanographic. The facility is used for a wide range of research purposes and also for commercial analysis, examples of the type of commercial work we can under take are given here.

The facilities available are briefly described below and further details are available on each by clicking on the links.

For initial enquiries about our capability or using the facilities contact Dr. J. Andy Milton

We have two of these high-sensitivity isotope analysis instruments allowing analysis of solutions or solid samples using the laser. Currently measuring the following systems: Li, B, Cr, Fe, Sr, Nd, Pb, Hf, U, U-Pb, U-Th and Pu.